11 Incredible Sunday Riley Good Genes Dupes
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Best Sunday Riley Good Genes Dupe
If you’ve never heard of the skin-transforming lactic acid treatment that is Good Genes, allow me to introduce you to one of the most hyped skincare products on the market. A best-selling, cult-favorite, top-rated exfoliating treatment that’s priced at $85 for 1 fluid ounce. Yeah, it’s no wonder you’re looking for a good Sunday Riley Good Genes Dupe. With that price tag, who wouldn’t?
If you’ve ever used Good Genes, you know just how amazing the results are. You read the raving reviews, see the incredible transformation pictures and somehow still don’t believe the hype. Until you try it out yourself.
Maybe you were lucky enough to get a sample. Or maybe you finally broke down and splurged to finally make your skin dreams come true. And now that you know of its incredible powers, you can’t live without it. But that price tag. So here are the best dupes for Sunday Riley Good Genes that won’t make you go broke.
What Is Lactic Acid?
Lactic acid is a type of Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA) that works on the surface of the skin to exfoliate dead skin cells. This can help with rough skin texture, dull skin, hyperpigmentation and acne scars, fine lines and wrinkles, acne, pore size and even help to balance oil production.
Lactic acid comes from the fermentation process of lactose that’s found in milk. It’s is a larger molecule than glycolic acid, which means it penetrates the skin more slowly, so therefore, it’s less irritating so it’s great for dry and sensitive skin types as well.
It also has humectant properties, which means it helps to draw water into the skin, which can help plump skin and keep it looking glowing, fresh and healthy.
Lactic acid, and other AHA’s, work by breaking down the “glue” that holds skin cells together. The “glue,” or materials that hold dead skin together can sometimes make it tough for dead skin cells to shed, which can lead to a buildup and things like rough, dull skin and even acne.
So, lactic acid breaks down the bonds between the dead skin cells, so they can shed and reveal, new, healthy skin! Lactic Acid is especially great for smoothing skin texture and brightening the overall skin tone.
A study also found that continued use of lactic acid can increase the thickness and firmness of the epidermis, which means younger looking skin for you! And if you need any more proof that lactic acid is an incredible anti-aging ingredient, another study found that the use of topical lactic acid stimulates the production of growth factors which means even more anti-aging benefit like collagen production and less fine lines and wrinkles.
What Is Sunday Riley Good Genes All In One Lactic Acid Treatment?
Before we get into the Sunday Riley Good Genes dupes, let’s first talk about what this product is and what makes it so special (and effective). Sunday Riley Good Genes is a lactic acid based chemical exfoliant that claims to brighten, exfoliate, plump and smooth skin with a noticeable difference in as little as 3 minutes.
From the Sunday Riley website, here are the claims for Good Genes:
Deeply exfoliates the dull surface of the skin for instant glow and radiance. As dull, dead surface cells are removed, clarity and smoothness is restored. Visibly brightens the appearance of dark spots and discolorations. Instantly plumps the look of fine lines and wrinkles in 3 minutes.
Multi-tasking, targeted lactic acid treatment rapidly exfoliates and boosts naturally youthful radiance, while visibly reducing the look of lines, wrinkles and dark spots. High potency, purified grade lactic acid exfoliates dull, pore-clogging dead skin cells, to instantly clarify and reveal smoother, clearer skin. Together with skin brightening licorice, this super-concentrated treatment visually reduces the look of dark spots and discoloration caused by exposure to the sun, for naturally brighter, even-toned skin.
Clinically proven to immediately and significantly plump fine lines and boost radiance in just 3 minutes
What does Sunday Riley Good Genes Do?: Bottom Line – Good Genes can help with acne, blackheads, large pores, uneven skin tone, rough skin texture, dull skin, aging skin, fine lines, wrinkles and hyperpigmentation.
Sunday Riley Good Genes Ingredients
When it comes to finding a good dupe for Good Genes, you have to analyze the ingredients. Although the star ingredient in Good Genes is lactic acid, it also has some other incredible ingredients that make it so effective.
BOTANICAL BLEND [WATER/EAU/AQUA, OPUNTIA TUNA FRUIT EXTRACT, ARNICA MONTANA FLOWER EXTRACT, ALOE BARBADENSIS LEAF EXTRACT, CYPRIPEDIUM PUBESCENS EXTRACT, OPUNTIA VULGARIS LEAF EXTRACT, AGAVE TEQUILANA LEAF EXTRACT, SACCHAROMYCES CEREVISIAE (YEAST) EXTRACT, LEUCONOSTOC/RADISH ROOT FERMENT FILTRATE], CAPRYLIC/CAPRIC TRIGLYCERIDE, SQUALANE, LACTIC ACID, PPG-12/SMDI COPOLYMER, PROPANEDIOL, BUTYLENE GLYCOL, STEARIC ACID, DIMETHICONE, CETEARYL ALCOHOL, PHENYL TRIMETHICONE, DISILOXANE, CETEARETH-20, GLYCERYL STEARATE, PEG-100 STEARATE, STEARYL GLYCYRRHETINATE, GLYCYRRHIZA GLABRA ROOT EXTRACT, CYMBOPOGON SCHOENANTHUS (LEMONGRASS) OIL, POTASSIUM HYDROXIDE, PHENOXYETHANOL, XANTHAN GUM, CAPRYLYL GLYCOL, CHLORPHENESIN, SODIUM PHYTATE
Now some of these are preservatives, stabilizers, etc. that don’t do anything for our skin, so we’re only going to look at the ingredients that give us results.
Here’s some key ingredients in Sunday Riley’s Good Genes Treatment:
KEY INGREDIENTS
PURIFIED LACTIC ACID: A super hydrating AHA that exfoliates the top layers of the skin to reveal smoother, brighter and younger looking skin. Lactic acid gets rid of dead skin cell buildup and helps control oil production, leaving skin balanced and clarified. Plus it helps fade discolorations like acne scars, treats and prevents acne and blackheads and diminishes fine lines and wrinkles
LICORICE: Helps to brighten skin tone and fade hyperpigmentation like sun spots and acne scars
ARNICA: A soothing ingredient that helps to calm inflammation and heal skin
PRICKLY PEAR EXTRACT: Provides antioxidant properties to protect skin against irritation while nourishing skin thanks to its fatty and amino acids
ALOE: A multi-purpose ingredient that hydrates, soothes and calms. Helps with redness, irritation, dry skin, inflammed skin and more
SACCHAROMYCES CEREVISIAE EXTRACT: A fancy name for yeast (yes the stuff you bake with). It’s actually an incredible skincare ingredient that helps to provide hydration and brightening to the skin
SQUALANE: An incredible moisturizer that nourishes skin without being heavy or greasy. Squalane Is found in the sebum our skin produces so no worries about breakouts here!
As you can tell, Sunday Riley’s Good Genes Treatment has some great ingredients that make it stick out from the crowd. In order to find the best dupe, we’ll be on the lookout for some of these ingredients in our alternatives.
The Good Genes Lactic Acid Treatment is an incredible skincare product that can work magic on an array of skincare concerns. I have dehydrated, sensitive skin that’s acne prone with large pores.
I’ve done my research and I know that lactic acids are incredible ingredients that can help acne, blackheads, refine pores and brighten the skin and so much more. Needless to say, I purchased Good Genes not expecting it to work magic on all of my skincare concerns like it claims to be able to do.
I was pleasantly surprised that Good Genes really does work wonders on my skin. It helps soften my fine lines, smooths out my skin and makes it appear brighter right after. You really do see noticeably brighter and healthier looking skin in about 3 minutes, which is something I have never seen a product do before. I love this product just for the gorgeous glow it gives!
If you have sensitive, acne prone skin like I do, there are some downsides to this product. While it does not break me out in the slightest, it does cause some flaking, dryness and irritation when I use it too frequently. For me, it’s not something I can use everyday, but it is gentle enough that some skin types can!
Immediately after use, my skin looks brighter, has a healthy glow, my pores look smaller and my skin feels so smooth and soft. With continued use, I noticed my skin pretty much had a glow to it all the time. It helped smooth out closed comedones on my chin and unclogged pores in my t-zone.
Bottom line: Good Genes gave me glowing, brighter looking skin and better texture.
Sunday Riley Good Genes Pros
- right pH to exfoliate properly
- well formulated
- gives noticeable results in a few minutes
- soothing ingredients to help avoid over-exfoliation
Sunday Riley Good Genes Cons
- expensive
- smell – it has a very odd smell but it goes away after a few minutes
- not ideal for reactive or very sensitive skin types
Sunday Riley Good Genes Dupes
Take a look at these best Sunday Riley Good Genes Dupes to save you some serious cash.
Paula’s Choice Advanced Smoothing Treatment 10% AHA
As with anything from Paula’s Choice, you know you’re getting a well-formulated product that works and the exfoliating treatment is no different! This product uses gentle acids that exfoliate dead skin cells plus tons of other incredible skin-loving ingredients to make your skin goals comes to life.
While Paula’s Choice has tons of different exfoliants, this one in particular has a blend of BHA and AHA that includes salicylic acid, glycolic, lactic, malic, and tartaric acids. Talk about an exfoliating powerhouse! With so many different exfoliants, this product can help with acne, clogged pores, pore size, oil production, fine lines, wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, uneven skin tone and texture – so it pretty much does it all.
It’s also enforced with peptides and ceramides to keep the skin barrier strong, plump and youthful. Tons of antioxidants like chamomile, grape seed extract and green tea fight free radical damage, while allantoin soothes skin.
Pacifica Glow Baby Brightening Peel Pads 10% AHA + BHA
Pacifica Glow Baby Brightening Peel Pads retexturize your complexion with a 10% AHA/BHA complex that exfoliates while delivering anti-aging benefits like improved elasticity and hydration.
With a triple acid blend of lactic acid, glycolic acid and salicylic acid, this exfoliant checks all the boxes – no matter your skin concern, this product can tackle it. These will visibly brighten and smooth skin, and with continued use, will help to fight acne, boost collagen, plump skin and even out skin tone and texture.
These peel pads also have niacinamide which helps to control oil production, minimize pores, brighten skin tone and fade discoloartions. Apple fruit extract helps to keep skin moisturized and aloe soothes skin and reduces redness for glowing skin.
Pixi Clarity Concentrate
Wanting a lactic acid treatment like Good Genes that’s geared more toward oily and acne-prone skin? Pixi has got ya covered! This lightweight serum helps to exfoliate and retexturize skin while diminishing the look of pores and balancing oil production. Basically a dream for oily skin types.
This serum uses a triple acid blend with lactic acid, glycolic acid and salicylic acid for ultimate exfoliation and brightening. BHA works to unclog pores, minimize pores and control oil production while the AHA’s smooth skin texture, fade hyperpigmentation and hydrate skin.
The Clarity Concentrate also has probiotics added to keep the skin’s microbiome in check so it’s not as susceptible to bacteria and irritants that can lead to acne. Aloe vera reduces redness associated with breakouts and also calms any irritation.
Fourth Ray Beauty Reveal 10% Alpha Hydroxy Acid Serum
With a 10% blend of lactic and glycolic acids, this affordable serum doesn’t lack in the results department – smoother, brighter skin is at your finger tips.
Lactic and glycolic acid work together to smooth skin texture, brighten skin tone, fade acne scars, diminish fine lines and plump skin with hydration. Plus a blend of enzyme to break down dead skin cells and provide antioxidant properties.
To top it all off, this serum has glycerin to keep skin plump, along with allantoin to soothe irritated and angry skin.
Mad Hippie AHA Exfoliating Peel
An anti-aging serum with even more anti-aging powerhouse ingredients than Good Genes? Sign me up! An incredibly powerful blend of 16 (yes, sixteen!) different actives to retexturize and rejuvenate skin. Need I say more?
A blend of lactic acid and glycolic acid exfoliate away dead skin, acne scarring and discolorations while keeping skin hydrated. Apple stem cell extract helps to diminish fine lines and wrinkles for more youthful looking skin. Plus Matrixyl Synthe 6, an incredible peptide, plumps skin by stimulating collagen and elastin production.
Hyaluronic acid and ceramides plump skin with hydration and keep the skin barrier strong and healthy, which is essential for glowing skin! This peel also has tons of antioxidant properties and gives skin an extra large dose of vitamins thanks to Goji Berry.
First Aid Beauty Resurfacing Liquid 10% AHA
Sensitive skin guys and gals, you can get in on the exfoliation action, too, thanks to this treatment from First Aid Beauty. It’s the same nourishing formula we all know and love, but with exfoliants (gentle ones, of course).
A blend of four different AHA’s: glycolic, lactic, tartaric and malic for a total of 10% AHA. This blend is special because the size of the lactic, tartaric and malic acids are bigger in size, so they cannot penetrate the skin as well, meaning they are less potent. Which means less irritation for sensitive skin.
And if you have hyperpigmentation, this product has got your back with licorice root, mulberry root and lemon peel extract to brighten skin and fade discolorations.
And the best for last, of course. FAB’s Skin Save Complex featuring their signature blend of hyaluronic acid, colloidal oatmeal, allantoin, aloe, ceramides and vitamins c and e to hydrate, nourish, soothe, moisturize and protect sensitive skin.
Versed Weekend Glow Daily Brightening Solution
Want all the acids? No problem. This Versed toner has a multi-acid blend to retexturize the skin and fade hyperpigmentation like acne scars and sun spots.
Lactic and glycolic acid hydrate the skin while providing gentle exfoliation to remove dead skin cells, brighten skin tone, even out texture and fade scarring. Azelaic acid is do-it-all ingredient that kills bacteria, fades acne scars, gently exfoliates, soothes inflammation and reduces redness. Kojic acid and bearberry extract help to visibly brighten skin and fade hyperpigmentation quickly. And to top it all off, vitamin c provides protection against environmental damage and fade discolorations.
When Versed says brightening, they mean brightening.
Eminence Organic Skin Care Bright Skin Licorice Root Booster
Eminence Organics Bright Skin Licorice Root Booster Serum is an effective yet gentle formula designed to brighten the appearance of your complexion while protecting it from free radicals with antioxidants like Vitamin C and E.
This lightweight serum is perfect for all skin types and helps to gently exfoliate dead skin while hydrating and brightening the skin, thanks to lactic acid. This brightening serum is infused with licorice root extract, plus a natural hydroquinone alternative complex made from African potato and tara tree extracts (be gone pesky acne scars!).
A blend of antioxidants, Coenzyme Q10, and Alpha Lipoic Acid work defend against environmental damage and stimulate collagen production, while stone crop helps to hydrate skin.
The Ordinary Lactic Acid 10% + HA
Although this one doesn’t have as many key ingredients as some of the other Sunday Riley Good Genes dupes, it’s still worth mentioning because it’s so dang cheap. Maximum results without breaking the bank.
This serum offers mild exfoliation without causing facial redness or irritation. The formula also contains hyaluronic acid and glycerin which acts as a powerful moisturizer to help improve dry, rough skin patches often associated with acne prone skin types. Plus The Ordinary’s signature Tasmanian pepperberry that helps to reduce inflammation associated with chemical exfoliation.
Want a drugstore and affordable Sunday Riley Good Genes dupe? This one’s for you.
Drunk Elephant Protini™ Powerpeptide Resurfacing Serum
Drunk Elephant has stolen our hearts and our money. Well formulated, effective products with the cutest dang packaging and this resurfacing serum is no different. Packed with peptides, amino acids and growth factors to make the most powerful anti-aging serum on the market.
This serum contains 11 peptides that work together to target fine lines and wrinkles while improving skin tone and texture. These peptides, along with amino acids and growth factors work together to stimulate collagen and elastin for plumper, more youthful looking skin.
Lactic acid works to exfoliate the surface of the skin for smooth, soft and hydrate skin. Plus tons of other hydrating and nourishing ingredients like Snow Mushroom Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Squalane, Green Tea Seed Oil and Virgin Marula Oil, your skin will stay hydrated and moisturized all day long.
Tarte Knockout 10% Acid Complex Serum
This advanced anti-aging serum contains a proven blend of AHA’s and antioxidants that will smooth your skin texture, reduce fine lines and wrinkles, even out your complexion, minimize the appearance of pores and add radiance to dull complexions.
A blend of glycolic and lactic acid to reveal younger looking, brighter skin that’s soft, smooth and supple. Squalane hydrates, moisturizes and helps strengthen the skin’s barrier so it stays moisturized.
Coenzyme 10 stimulates collagen production to plump skin overtime while firming, soothing and hydrating the skin. This serum also has aloe which reduces redness and calms irritation.
Wrap Up:
Is Sunday Riley Good Genes Worth It? Even though Good Genes is an expensive product, it’s well worth the cost for the incredible results it gives. But if you’re anything like me and can’t stand to spend $80+on a single product, these dupes are just as good, and dare I say, maybe even better.
From added antioxidant properties to peptides, growth factors and hydrating ingredients, all the way down to the much better price tag, these Sunday Riley Good Genes Dupes with deliver results.
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